Cheating the issuance company on auto body repair?

• I Am Ahab

  So Monday a lady hits my car while it's parked on the street. The car I'm going to soon use on a trade-in now needs a new door. My boss tells he knows a body guy who can sometimes get your repairs done while getting you extra money from the insurance co. The words he used made it sound like the guy knew how to exploit some grey area to do so. How does this work and is it illegal?
• LJ

  

  From what I understand from a friend who is a claims adjuster
  
  Having a body shop overstate repair costs, charge you less and let you pocket the difference when the insurance company went off of their estimate = fraud
  
  Having the insurance company come up with an estimate an cut you a check, then getting the work done for less and pocketing the difference = kosher
• september63

  

  LOL. You use the term "cheating" an insurance company. Then ask if its legal? You answered your own question. Now, do ppl do this? Sure, many, many ppl look to get over on their insurance company.
• vball10set

  what the hell's an issuance company?
• BR1986FB

  september63;767322 wrote:LOL. You use the term "cheating" an insurance company. Then ask if its legal? You answered your own question. Now, do ppl do this? Sure, many, many ppl look to get over on their insurance company.

  
  I've heard of people doing this.
• justincredible

  

  Yeah, that doesn't sound right at all.
  
  When my truck mirror was hit I was lucky enough to not have to deal with insurance. Got an estimate from the dealership for $467, the lady wrote me a check for $467, and I bought an OEM mirror on ebay for $130 and replaced it myself in about 30 minutes.
• Sonofanump

  justincredible;767327 wrote:Yeah, that doesn't sound right at all.
  
  When my truck mirror was hit I was lucky enough to not have to deal with insurance. Got an estimate from the dealership for $467, the lady wrote me a check for $467, and I bought an OEM mirror on ebay for $130 and replaced it myself in about 30 minutes.

  
  Did you lube her before you gave it to her. Wow, forget the insurance, screw the lady paying out her pocket.
• thavoice

  THere is no softer pillow than a clear conscience.
• justincredible

  

  Sonofanump;767334 wrote:Did you lube her before you gave it to her. Wow, forget the insurance, screw the lady paying out her pocket.

  
  She paid me what it would have cost to get it done at a dealership. It's not my fault I'm handy enough to fix it myself. The lady seemed happy to just write me the check and not deal with insurance.
• Sonofanump

  justincredible;767341 wrote:She paid me what it would have cost to get it done at a dealership. It's not my fault I'm handy enough to fix it myself. The lady seemed happy to just write me the check and not deal with insurance.

  
  No need to justify it to me. You did what you thought you needed to do...
• justincredible

  

  Sonofanump;767345 wrote:No need to justify it to me. You did what you thought you needed to do...

  
  OK.
• vball10set

  thavoice;767337 wrote:THere is no softer pillow than a clear conscience.

  
  +1
• Fab1b

  

  And people wonder why insurance cost so much, its not your credit or driving record that drives up the rates it is FRAUD!!!
• Sonofanump

  Fab1b;767365 wrote:And people wonder why insurance cost so much, its not your credit or driving record that drives up the rates it is FRAUD!!!

  
  and the ability to file a lawsuit and runaway jury awards.
• mucalum49

  

  LJ;767321 wrote:From what I understand from a friend who is a claims adjuster
  
  Having a body shop overstate repair costs, charge you less and let you pocket the difference when the insurance company went off of their estimate = fraud
  
  Having the insurance company come up with an estimate an cut you a check, then getting the work done for less and pocketing the difference = kosher

  This. And if additional damage is found by the body shop and the initial check is not enough the company will pay for the supplemental damage but usually send that check directly to the body shop.
• hoops23

  

  Sonofanump;767334 wrote:Did you lube her before you gave it to her. Wow, forget the insurance, screw the lady paying out her pocket.

  
  There is absolutely 0 wrong with what he did. The lady knocked his mirror off, he got an estimate, she paid for her damage, he found replacement for cheaper..
  
  /story.
• Heretic

  

  thavoice;767337 wrote:THere is no softer pillow than a clear conscience.

  
  A pillow stuffed with dollar bills you bilked someone out of is pretty damn soft!
• justincredible

  

  hoops23;767575 wrote:There is absolutely 0 wrong with what he did. The lady knocked his mirror off, he got an estimate, she paid for her damage, he found replacement for cheaper..
  
  /story.

  
  Yep. If I had absolutely no skills with a ratchet I would've taken it to a garage to get fixed and it would've been the full amount. Why should I give her a discount for busting my shit just because I can fix it myself?
  
  I also know of people who've had their cars damaged and instead of dealing with insurance the person that hit them cut them a check based on a quote. Instead of actually getting the repair they just kept the money because they didn't really care much about the damage.
• ZWICK 4 PREZ

  

  justincredible;767583 wrote: I also know of people who've had their cards damaged and instead of dealing with insurance the person that hit them cut them a checked based on a quote.

  
  Yeah but how much can a poker deck cost?
• justincredible

  

  ZWICK 4 PREZ;767587 wrote:Yeah but how much can a poker deck cost?

  
  Threeve
• gorocks99

  

  justincredible;767583 wrote:Yep. If I had absolutely no skills with a ratchet I would've taken it to a garage to get fixed and it would've been the full amount. Why should I give her a discount for busting my shit just because I can fix it myself?
  
  I also know of people who've had their cars damaged and instead of dealing with insurance the person that hit them cut them a check based on a quote. Instead of actually getting the repair they just kept the money because they didn't really care much about the damage.

  
  How much does card insurance run ya?
• se-alum

  

  ZWICK 4 PREZ;767587 wrote:Yeah but how much can a poker deck cost?

  They probably got a quote for a deck of nudey cards, which are considerably more expensive than your run of the mill decks.